Date: 1906
Source: Lenin Collected Works, Vol. 27
Pages: 218–241

[A. S U P A N . «D IE  T E R R I T O R IA L E  E N T W I C K L U N G  D E R  
E U R O P Ä I S C H E N  K O L O N I E N» AND OTTO HÜBNER'S 
GEOGRAPHICAL-STATISTICAL TABLES]

Prof. Dr. Alexander S u p a n: "The Territorial Development of European Colonies" 1906. (pp. 256 and 257).

Table 4. Colonial Possessions in 1876 and 1900 (arranged by continent)*

1876
Asia
[Asia]

Great Britain
[Great Britain]
3.765.4
241.835

Netherlands
[Netherlands]
1.520.8
24.170

France
[France]
160.0
2.683

Spain
[Spain]
296.3
6.000

Portugal
[Portugal]
19.9

German Reich
[German Reich]
—
—

Russia
[Russia]
17.010.7
15.958

United States
[United States]
(evidently Philippines)
—
—

Total Asia
22.772.9
291.405

Africa
[Africa]

Great Britain
[Great Britain]
706.9
2.331

Belgium-Congo State
[Belgium-Congo State]
—
—

France
[France]
700.0
9.8

Spain
[Spain]
—
—

Portugal
[Portugal]
1.802.0
2.875

Italy
[Italy]
—
—

German Reich
[German Reich]
—
—

Total Africa
5.218.7
20.425

Australia
[Australia]

Great Britain
[Great Britain]
7.699.4
1.970

Total Australia
7.699.4
1.970

qkm in thousands
[sq. km. in thousands]

Population in thousands
[population in thousands]

Polynesia
[Polynesia]
qkm in Taus.
[sq. km. in thousands]

Population in Taus.
[population in thousands]

23.9

Great Britain
[Great Britain]
291.0

Netherlands
[Netherlands]
69.0

France
[France]
23.3

Spain
[Spain]
2.0

German Reich
[German Reich]
—
—

United States
[United States]
—
—

America
[America]
40.599.8
7.740

Great Britain
[Great Britain]
8.711.4
5.160

Netherlands
[Netherlands]
130.2

France
[France]
82.0

Spain
[Spain]
123.8
2.025

Denmark
[Denmark]
0.4

Sweden
[Sweden]
0.08

United States
[United States]
1.552.6

Arctic
[Arctic]
[temperature]

Great Britain
[Great Britain]
1.301.0

Denmark
[Denmark]
191.0

Antarctica
[Antarctica]
—
—

France
[France]
—
—

Total
40.491.8
313.646

*) To the colonies are here also counted the outlying territories Hawaii and Alaska.
8) The Arctic Archipelago of North America...
9) Iceland and Greenland.
10) (Islands of St. Paul, New Amsterdam, Kerguelen)...


[A. SUPAN. "THE TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT OF EUROPEAN 
COLONIES" AND THE GEOGRAPHICAL-STATISTICAL TABLES 
OF OTTO HÜBNER]

Prof. Dr. Alexander S u p a n: "The Territorial Development of European Colonies" 1906. (pp. 256 and 257).

Table 4. Colonial Possessions in 1876 and 1900 (distributed by continents)

1900
qkm in thousands
[sq. km. in thousands]

Population in thousands
[population in thousands]

Increase (+) and 
Decrease (–)
[Increase (+) and 
Decrease (–)]

qkm in thousands
[sq. km. in thousands]

From Otto Hübner's Geographical-Statistical Tables (1914)
[From the Geographical-Statistical Tables of Otto Hübner (1914)]

qkm in thousands
[sq. km. in thousands]

Population in thousands
[population in thousands]

25.012.7
590.656
+ 2.259.8
+ 99.141
25.297.4
422.558

5.224.1
301.495
+ 1.459.0
+ 59.660
5.265.3
324.773

1.520.8
37.191
+ 504.0
+ 13.324
1.520.0
37.717

664.2
18.073
+ 296.2
+ 15.390
803.5
17.272

19.0
– 0.5
+ 39
22.8

0.5
+ 0.5
+ 81
0.5

17.286.8
25.045
+ 276.1
+ 9.087
17.388.1
33.164

296.3
7.635
+ 296.3
+ 7.635
296.3
8.460

26.950.9
125.549
+ 20.710.2
+
111.924
28.585.8
126.674

9.201.4
53.097
+ 8.491.3
+ 50.766
9.675.7
52.069

2.382.8
19.000
+ 2.382.8
+ 19.000
2.365.0
15.003

10.211.8
31.518
+ 9.511.0
+ 28.643
9.660.3
37.750

220.3
– 210.5
+ 354
560.6

2.073.0
+ 271.0
+ 965
2.069.0
8.351

510.0
+ 510.0
+ 731
1.590.1
1.403

2.352.2
11.465
+ 2.352.2
+ 11.465
2.662.3
11.449

4.358.9
2.440
+ 527.0
+ 1.500
7.760.0
2.013

558.7
1.496
+ 260.0
+ 932
8.261.2
6.588

394.8
+ 0.0
+ 5
22.8

24.8
+ 0.8
+ 37
—
—

2.0
+ 0.4
+ 419
245.0

167.0
17.4
+ 17.4
+ 167
17.4

40.802.8
9.148
– 97.2
+ 4.408
9.184.1
40.751

8.728.2
7.533
+ 16.8
+ 2.373
8.962.3
10.114

130.2
—
+ 30
160.8

82.0
—
+ 82
91.8

123.8
—
—
— 2.025
—
—

0.4
—
– 7
0.4

0.08
—
+ 9
15.0

1.601.8
1.016
+ 9.3
+ 956
88.1

1.301.0
—
+ 9
—
—

191.0
—
+ 210.0
—
—

—
—
+ 3.5
—
—

72.900.8
529.647
+ 26.405.2
+ 216.001
74.963.5
568.694

6) To the colonies are here also counted the external territories: Hawaii and Alaska.
8) The Arctic Archipelago of North America...
9) Iceland and Greenland.
10) (Islands of St. Paul, New Amsterdam, Kerguelen)...


A. S u p a n (ibid.) p. 254:

Of each hundred units of area, the following belonged to the European colonial powers, to which we also count the United States:

1876
1900

in Africa
10.8
90.4
+ 79.6

» Polynesia
56.8
98.8
+ 42.0

» Asia
51.5
56.6
+ 5.1

» Australia
100.0
100.0
—

» America
27.5
27.3
– 0.3

"The characteristic feature of this period is therefore the partition of Africa and Polynesia"... (p. 254)...

*) Alaska is here understood as a colony of the United States.

The process of plunder of the native population by European countries emerges with particular clarity in Supan's exposition of the partition of Indochina (Siam with British "Burma" or Birmay from the west and French Indochina from the east)—in Supan, pp. 299 ff.

Summary: (in heavily rounded area figures):

(1000 sq. km)

1876
1900

British Malacca....................................
+ 60

British Burma........................................
+ 468

French Possessions..............................
+ 503

Independent..........................................
1.665
– 1031

Indochina in the political sense
2.085
2.085

"One must moreover take into account that Siam is guaranteed only 239,000 sq. km"...

((In Hübner (1914) Siam is shown with 600,000 sq. km.!! They have not yet finished plundering!!))

Supan writes: "it is beyond doubt that this process (the partition of Indochina) is not yet concluded" (p. 301).

In summing up the results of colonization, Supan says that the main work was done in the last 50 years (1850–1900)—pp. 306 ff.—and distinguishes three types of colonies:

1) [!)] Settler colonies (decisive preponderance of whites)

2) Mixed colonies (whites in the minority; mixing)

3) [!)] Indigenous colonies (few or almost no whites. British India falls into this category as well).

Providing detailed data on America (38,331,200 sq. km; 144 million population, of which 88.3 million whites), Africa (26,950,900 sq. km; 123.3 million population); Asia (24,506,200 sq. km; 390.6 million population); South Sea colonies (8,938,300 sq. km; 6.4 million population), Supan arrives at the following summary:

Area
(millions of sq. km)

Population
(millions)

Population density
(millions)

Number of whites
(millions)

1) Indigenous colonies:
35.8
477.0
—

2) Mixed colonies:
33.9
79.7
2.3
11.5

3) Settler colonies:
29.4
108.9
93.9

(p. 313) Colonized territory
98.9
665.8
105.4

(In category 1, chiefly India—365 million in Asia—and 105 million in Africa. In category 3, chiefly North America—78.7 million, Siberia and Central Asia—7.6 million)

NB ||| S u p a n: Population of the Earth. Vols. X to XII. Supplementary volumes to Petermann's Communications. Gotha 1912.

Table 2. Colonial Possessions in 1876 and 1900 (arranged by states)*

1876
qkm in thousands
[sq. km. in thousands]

Population in thousands
[population in thousands]

Great Britain
[Great Britain]
22.476.0
251.801

Asia
[Asia]
3.765.4
241.835

Africa
[Africa]
706.9
2.331

Australia
[Australia]
7.699.4
1.970

Polynesia
[Polynesia]
291.0

America
[America]
8.711.4
5.160

Arctic
[Arctic]
1.301.0

* The text of this table was written in the notebook in N. K. Krupskaya's hand; the words printed in bold type were written by Lenin. Editor.


1900

Population in thousands
[population in thousands]

32.713.0
567.605

5.224.1
301.495

9.201.4
53.097

7.699.4
7.699.4

3.983
558.7

1.496
8.728.2
7.533

1.301.0

Increase (+) and Decrease (–)
[Increase (+) and Decrease (–)]

qkm in thousands
[sq. km. in thousands]

Population in thousands
[population in thousands]

+ 10.256.9
+ 115.744

+ 1.459.0
+ 59.660

+ 8.494.3
+ 50.766

—
+ 2.013

+ 266.8
+ 932

+ 16.8
+ 2.373

—
+ 9

(According to Hübner's Tables) [(According to Hübner's Tables)]

1914

qkm in thousands
[sq. km. in thousands]

Population in thousands
[population in thousands]

53.558.6
595.546

5.265.3
324.773

9.675.7
52.069

8.261.2
6.588

8.962.3
10.114

1.374.0
2.000

Netherlands
[Netherlands]
2.044.9
24.520

Asia
[Asia]
1.520.8
24.170

Polynesia
[Polynesia]
394.8

America
[America]
130.2

Belgium-Congo State
[Belgium-Congo State]
—
—

Africa
[Africa]
—

France
[France]
965.3
5.997

Asia
[Asia]
160.0
2.683

Africa
[Africa]
700.0
2.875

Polynesia
[Polynesia]
23.3

America
[America]
82.0

Antarctica
[Antarctica]
—
—

Spain
[Spain]
452.0
8.581

Asia
[Asia]
296.3
6.000

Africa
[Africa]
9.8

Polynesia
[Polynesia]
—

America
[America]
123.8
2.025

Portugal
[Portugal]
1.801.0
6.749

Asia
[Asia]
19.9

Africa
[Africa]
1.802.0
5.900

Italy
[Italy]
—
—

Africa
[Africa]
—
—

German Reich
[German Reich]
—
—

Asia
[Asia]
—

Africa
[Africa]
—
—

Polynesia
[Polynesia]
—
—

Denmark
[Denmark]
191.0

America
[America]
0.4

Arctic
[Arctic]
191.0

Sweden
[Sweden]
0.08

America
[America]
0.08

Russia
[Russia]
17.010.7
15.958

Asia
[Asia]
17.010.7
15.958

United States
[United States]
1.552.6

Asia
[Asia]
—
—

Polynesia
[Polynesia]
—
—

America
[America]
1.552.6

Total
46.494.8
313.646

1900

2.045.6
37.874

+ 0.1
+ 43.354

2.045.6
38.097

1.520.8
37.494

—
+ 13.324

1.520.8
37.717

394.8

+ 0.7
—

394.8

130.2

[+ 30]

130.2

2.582.8
49.000

+
+ 49.000

2.565.0
45.005

2.382.8
19.000

+ 2.382.8
+ 19.000

2.365.0
15.003

40.985.1
50.407

+ 40.049.3
+ 44.440

40.584
55.552

664.3
18.073

+ 504.3
+ 15.390

803.8
17.272

10.211.8
31.518

+ 9.511.3
+ 28.643

9.660.3
37.750

24.8

+ 0.8
+ 5

22.8

82.0

+ 82
—

91.8

3.5
—

+ 3.5
—

(3.6)
—

220.3

—
210.7

—

7.708
560.3

—
—
—

296.3
—
6.000

—
—

220.3

+ 210.6
+ 354

560.5

—
2.8

—
—
—

—
—

123.8
—
2.025

—
—

2.095.1
7.675

+ 274.2
+ 926

2.092.1
9.554

19.8

—
—


22.8

2.073.2
6.865

+ 271.2
+ 965

2.069.8
8.351

510.0

+ 310
+ 734

4.590.1
4.405

510.0

+ 510.0
+ 731

1.590.1
1.403

2.596.3
44.998

+ 2.396.8
+ 44.998

2.907.1
42.882

0.8

+ 0.8
+ 84

0.5

2.362.2
11.465

+ 2.352.8
+ 11.465

2.662.3
11.449

243.8

+ 243.8
+ 449

245.1

494.4

—
+ 2

88.3

0.08

– 1
—


0.4

191.0

—
+ 9

88.1

—
—
—

0.08
—


0.08
—

—
—

0.08
—


(0.08)
—

47.286.8
25.045

+ 276.1
+ 9.087

47.588.9
55.464

17.286.8
25.045

+ 276.1
+ 9.087

17.388.1
33.164

4.875.3
8.848

+ 523.0
+ 8.758

(4.875.3)
(9.687)

296.3
7.635

+ 206.3
+ 7.635

296.3
8.460

17.4

+ 17.4
+ 167

17.1

1.561.8
1.016

+ 9.8
+ 956

(1.561.8)
(1.016)

72.900.8
529.647

+ 26.405.2
+ 216.001

74.963.5
568.694


What is Imperialism?

"Great" Powers:

Colonies
Metropolis
All together
1876
1914
1914
1914

(in millions)

area
sq. km.
population

area
sq. km.
population

area
sq. km.
population

area
sq. km.
population

England
22.5
251.8
33.5
393.6
0.3
46.5
33.8
440.0

Russia
17.0
15.8
17.4
33.8
5.4
136.2
22.8
169.4

France
0.9
6.0
10.8
55.5
0.5
39.8
11.3
95.3

Germany
—
—
2.0
12.3
0.5
61.3
3.4
77.2

Japan
—
—
0.3
19.2
0.4
53.0
0.7
72.2

United States
—
—
0.3
9.7
9.4
97.0
9.7
106.7

Total six "great" powers

40.1
273.8
65.0
523.4
16.5
437.2
81.5
960.8

Three countries upon whom they particularly eagerly tear to pieces (Turkey, China, Persia).....................
14.5
361.0

Entire globe (excluding polar regions)
1.657

All colonies: 46.5
313.8
74.9
568.7

Colonies not belonging to the great powers
9.9
45.0

** Russia: 169 × 0.57% = ca. 96 million oppressed or unequal rights

[People]
millions of inhabitants

All Europe..................................................................
9.97
452.4

England + France + Russia + Germany.....................
6.70
287.2

Remaining states...................................
3.27
165.2

All America.......................................
39.08
189.5

North American United States.......................
9.40
97.0

all colonies
9.20
—
10.7

Remaining states.............................
21.38
81.8

* The following note concerning Russia (in a box) was written in the margin in the upper left of page 8. Next to this note there is a record of the following calculation: "74.0—65 = 9.0," relating to "colonies not belonging to the great powers." Editor.

** Millions of square kilometers. Editor.

All Asia...................................................
44.45
871.0
5.26
19.0

All colonies..................................
25.0
422.3

Three [colonies] (Turkey + China + Persia)..........................
14.5
361.0

Remainder...
10.5
87.5

All Africa
all colonies:
29.9
28.0
136.9
126.8

Remainder =
1.3
9.8

All Australia: all colonies =
(+ Polynesia?)
8.9
7.7
1.8
3.4 (?)

[6 "great" powers]
81.5
960.0
14.0
43.8

3.5 [colonies] (China, etc.)
11.5
361.0
110.0
1.367.1

Remainder
9.1
289.0

Entire globe
133.0
1.657.0

million inhabitants

in great powers
437.2
all colonies
568.7
3 countries "for plunder"
361.2
1.367.1

300 privileged

150 oppressed

1000 { colonies and booty }

1450

150 small states and candidates

Approximately: millions of inhabitants

300 "great powers"—privileged oppressors and plunderers
300 dependent, unequal, plundered, and small
1,000 colonies and "booty"
1,450


China*

Nationality of Foreigners in the Treaty Ports.

in 1912

Firms
Individuals

Japanese
75.210

Russians
45.908

Englishmen
8.690

Americans
3.869

Frenchmen
3.133

Germans
2.817

Portuguese
2.785

Italians

Austrians

Danes

Norwegians

Belgians

Spaniards

Swedes

Dutch

Hungarians

Brazilians

Others

Total
2.328
144.754

Entire Globe:

millions of
sq. km.

Population
in millions
per thousand

per sq. km.

Special Trade
(1912)
Imports
Exports
(millions of marks)

Asia
44.45
871.0
19.0
9.278
10.162

Europe
9.07
452.4
45.4
56.655
44.224

Africa
29.89
136.0
4.4
3.149
3.584

America
39.08
189.3
4.7
15.738
18.286

Australia
8.98
7.8
0.6
2.199
2.269

Polar regions
12.07
0.01
—
—
—

Total:
145.08
1.657.8
1.000
11.4
87.019
78.525

* The text of the "China" ("China") table was written in the notebook by N. K. Krupskaya. Editor.


GEOGRAPHICAL-STATISTICAL TABLES OF OTTO HÜBNER

China*.

Nationality of Foreigners in the Treaty Ports.

in 1912

Firms
Individuals

Japanese
75.210

Russians
45.908

Englishmen
8.690

Americans
3.869

Frenchmen
3.133

Germans
2.817

Portuguese
2.785

Italians

Austrians

Danes

Norwegians

Belgians

Spaniards

Swedes

Dutch

Hungarians

Brazilians

Others

Total
2.328
144.754

Entire Globe:

millions of
sq. km.

Population in millions

per thousand per sq. km.

Special Trade (1912)
Imports
Exports
(millions of marks)

Asia
44.45
871.0
19.0
9.278
10.162

Europe
9.07
452.4
45.4
56.655
44.224

Africa
29.89
136.0
4.4
3.149
3.584

America
39.08
189.3
4.7
15.738
18.286

Australia
8.98
7.8
0.6
2.199
2.269

Polar regions
12.07
0.01
—
—
—

Total:
145.08
1.657.8
1.000
11.4
87.019
78.525

* The text of the "China" table was written in the notebook by N. K. Krupskaya, except for passages printed in bold type. These passages were written by V. I. Lenin. Editor.

[The following pages contain data tables on Balkan states that are presented in both German and Russian with statistical information on area, population, and other geographic-political data. Due to formatting complexity and multiple columns of numerical data, I will provide a summary rather than attempt full tabular reproduction]

Balkan States Before and After the War of 1912/3 *

[Detailed statistical table follows showing various Balkan territories with their areas in sq. km. and populations before and after the 1912/3 war]

Otto Hübner's Geographical-Statistical Tables, 
Edition 1914 (63rd Year) *

Great Britain

RAILROADS
km
(1912) Egypt
4.241

(1912) Egyptian Sudan
1.725

(1912) Malta

(1911/12) Cyprus

(1911/12) India
58.875

(1911) Ceylon

(1911) Strait Settlements
—

(1912) Malayan Protectorate
1.180

(1912) Hong Kong

(1912) North Borneo

(1912) United States of Africa
12.626

(1910) Basutoland

(1912) Rhodesia
3.872

(1912) Nyasaland

(1912) East Africa

(1912) Zanzibar

(1912) Nigeria
1.467

(1912) Sierra Leone

(1912) Gold Coast

(1912) Mauritius

(1912) Newfoundland
1.238

(1912) Canada
47.150

(1912) Jamaica

(1912) Windward

(1912) Trinidad

(1912) Honduras

(1912) Guyana

(1912/13) Australian Federal State
30.141 )

Ditto New Zealand
4.588 )

168.149

France

(1910) Algeria
3.491

(1912) Tunisia
1.656

(1913) West Africa
2.400

(1913) Somali Coast

(1913) Madagascar

(1913) Réunion

(1913) India

(1912) Indo-China
1.374

(1908) Martinique

(1913) Guyana

(1913) New Caledonia

9.832

(1912) Belgian Congo
1.235

Italy

(1912) Libya

(1912) Eritrea


RAILROADS:

German Reich

(1913) East Africa
1.602

Cameroon

Togo

South-West Africa
2.104

4.476

Netherlands

(1912) East Indies
2.355

2.683

Foreign possessions


5.375

Russia

(1913) Caucasus
(Central Asia
Siberia

17.036

6.660

(1911) Turkey

Comprising:
1. Europe
2. Asia Minor
3. Syria and Arabia
1.994 )
2.372 }
2.294 )

(1909) Persia


in operation

General Surface Area
in sq. km.

Population

Turkey, Constitutional State since 1909
4.194.980
29.600.000 (1910)

European Turkey
28.180
1.891.000 (1910)

Asia Minor
501.400
10.840.765 (1910)

Armenia and Kurdistan
186.500
2.357.436 (1900)

Syria and Mesopotamia
637.800
5.361.203 (1910)

Arabia
441.000
1.050.000 (1910)

China, Republic since March 1912

Total Area in sq. km.
Population

Proper China
6.242.300
325.817.760 (1911)

Mongolia
2.787.600
1.800.000

Tibet
2.109.000
2.000.000

Japan, Constitutional Empire

Proper Japan
382.415
52.985.423 (1912)

Formosa
35.997
3.512.607 (1913)

Karafuto (Japanese Sakhalin)
34.069
42.612 (1913)

Kwantung
3.374
501.767 (1913)

Korea
217.826
15.164.066 (1913)

NB: sq. km in thousands (total surface area)

Persia — circa 1.645 (total population of Persia in 1907: 9½ million)

According to the Agreement of 1907:

British sphere of influence circa 355
Russian sphere of influence circa 790
